Detention Deputy Terminated

What:
A detention deputy was terminated for neglecting his duties and responsibilities at the Pinellas County Jail after he was previously disciplined for similar issues.

When:
The incidents occurred between October 20, 2017, and January 1, 2018.

The detention deputy was terminated effective Friday, May 4, 2018.

Where:
The incident occurred at the Pinellas County Jail located at 14400 49th Street North, in Clearwater.

Why/How:
A detention deputy was terminated for neglecting his duties and responsibilities at the Pinellas County Jail after he was previously disciplined for similar issues.

According to the administrative investigation, in January 2018, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office supervisors were conducting a comprehensive procedural and compliance review of all areas of the maximum security portion of the jail when they discovered that Deputy James Jerkins failed to complete proper inmate counts required by policy.

During the course of the administrative investigation, investigators determined that between October 20, 2017, and January 1, 2018, Jerkins failed to conduct a total of 15 end of shift inmate counts. He failed to conduct complete end of shift inmate counts for a total of 12 out of 15 days and for the remaining three dates he only conducted partial counts.

Investigators say Jerkins compromised the integrity of the secure facility and his failure to complete the inmate counts were caught on jail surveillance video

During the administrative interview, Jerkins admitted to the allegations. Investigators asked Jerkins why he failed to conduct the inmate checks and he stated “I’m gonna go with complacency and just being lazy.”

Investigators say Jerkins was suspended in 2015 for 30 days, after he failed to conduct inmate disciplinary report hearings and rendered disciplinary sanctions to inmates from hearings that never occurred.

A year later, Jerkins was suspended for three days, after he was photographed at work sitting in a chair with his eyes closed and admitted to investigators he was idle when the picture was taken.

As a result of these violations, Sheriff Gualtieri terminated Jerkin’s employment with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, effective May 4, 2018.